Self-adjusting tongue-ihon



w. 1. TEMPLE.

Tongue.

' Patented Aug. '7, 18-55.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WM. I. TEMPLE, OF PRINCETON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SELF-ADJUSTING TONGUE-IRON. I

Specification of Letters Patent No. 13,405, dated August 7, 1855.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WM. 1.. TEMPLE, of Princeton, in the county of W'orcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented cer= tain new and useful Improvements in the Construction of Tongue-Irons; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the drawings herewith pre sented and the letters of reference marked thereon.

My improvement consists in making a part of the iron B movable with a joint at C, and the end turned at about right angle, and having a nut fitted on it, making the plate A separate with the usual projection for backing with a hole for the piece B to play through; in the wood of the tongue out a space for the end of B with its nut so that it can be laid up close to the under side; make a lever M with a forked end to catch into holes in the nut on B and having a slot through which put a pin for a fulcrum, the back end of M extending back to the middle or back part of the tongue. This lever is hung by the pin so that by pressing down the back end it shall raise the piece B close up and when released the weight of B shall cause it to fall. The ring S to be attached to the yoke is made just large enough to slide over B. When it is drawn close up so that to attach the yoke it is only necessary to guide the end of the tongue into the ring and back the animals until the ring S slides over B when it falls holding it secure, and when it is wished to detach them by pressing down the back end of the lever M it raises B, allowing the ring to slide off, thus making a cheap, durable fastening with no loose part to get lost or mislaid.

It may be found best in some cases to leave off the nut on B and connect the lever M directly to it by making a hole or holes in its end or near it and the form and arrangement of the other parts be varied by the circumstances of the particular cases. Therefore I do not claim the particular form or arrangement but WVhat I do claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is I claim making the part B movable and self adjusting in connection with the lever or any similar means to raise it, in the manner and for the purposes above set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM I. TEMPLE.

Witnesses:

EVANDER T. RAWsoN, JAS. G. ARNOLD. 

